Prediction Round 8, 2025: Changes vs Melbourne

[Mighty Eagles]

I think we're in consensus here, Dewar needs to find some touch in the WAFL and the likes of Gross should return.

Depending on match-ups, possibly give Archer a spell on balance and if Kelly is available he should return.

Owies survived while the kids got a lesson a few weeks ago. I'm not sure how many lives he has left.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Why does everyone want to drop Archer?

Maybe because he got 5 possessions and didn't kick a goal? I mean, Jack Williams wasn't really any better, but he spent less time in the forward line than Reid and at least managed to kick a single goal.... so that's something.

 

[Bender_]

Blowies gotta be out, surely. Would rather Brockman in right now.

 

[Keys]

First pass -

Kelly to take Dewar’s spot on the wing
Johnston for Davis
Long into the 22 to replace Owies and Gross to be sub

 

[Miguel Sanchez]

First pass -

Kelly to take Dewar’s spot on the wing
Johnston for Davis
Long into the 22 to replace Owies and Gross to be sub

Boooooooooooo.

 

[Cuzz09]

Bring in Malakai for Owies

 

[THE A5]

Gross needs to play and in the guts
Allen needs to go and we need a key back in

IN Gross, TK, Brock, HJ
Out: Allen Blowies, Cole, Dewar

 

[twce13]

owies ou. noah long into the 22.
brockman or champion sub

Gross for Davis.

dewar needs a spell in the wafl.
in greggo.

cole out, hunt to backline, TK in.

FB: Hunt, Gov, Maric
HB: Baker, Allen, Ginbey
C: TK, Hough, Graham
HF: Long, Jwill, Ryan
FF: Cripps, Waterman, AReid
Foll: Flynn, Harley, Hewett
Int: Hutch, Greggo, Gross, Duggan
Sub: Brockman/Champion

 

[fullbull]

I’d say this would be my preference:

IN: Gross, Kelly, Shanahan
OUT: Dewar, Owies, A Reid

Ginbey Allen Duggan
Maric Gov Baker
Hunt Hough Ryan
Hewett J Williams Graham
Cripps Waterman Long
Flynn H Reid Kelly

Hutchinson Cole Gross Shanahan
Davis to sub (or bring in Brockman, Grego, HJ)

 

[Cuzz09]

I'm liking the idea of Harley middle/forward

I'm fine with Oscar back

I like Hough mid.

Could we have Harley/TK rotating mid/fwd?


Reckon Mini is gonna use that TB move as inspiration of sorts as in "this competition has no respect for you, you need to show them you can match it" etc...

Geez a win would lift everyone and relieve the pressure

 

[WCE777]

Out: Owies, Dewar
In: Kelly, Brockman
Brockman or Long to sub, give Davis more time as he is showing some nice things.

 

[BeeTee]

Out owies
In anyone

 

[rebel23]

Out.. owies, Graham, Dewar

Ins... Kelly, gross, Grego

 

[Dom sheed pocket]

IN: Kelly Long (from sub) Brockman
OUT: Dewar Owies Davis
SUB: Hall

Hutch to Dewars wing
Kelly to back in to the midfield
Oscar to stay down back
Hough to stay in the midfield

Defenders: Duggan, Baker, Gov, Cole, Allen, Ginbey, Maric
Mids: Flynn, Harley, Hewett, Hough, Graham, Kelly, Hutch, Hunt
Forwards: Williams, Waterman, AReid, Long, Cripps, Ryan, Brockman

 

[Cuzz09]

Melbourne weren't THAT impressive v Richmond on Thurs night TBH but they will get 3 extra days rest but we get home advantage...

Obviously Gawn, Petracca, Oliver etc are key but Lindsay, Langford, Bowen and Salem are tricky customers too.

Gawn/Flynn (actually Gawns last 3 v BBW haven't been amazing so there's a chance they bring him back)

Petracca/Harley

Oliver/Hewett

Should be a decent tussle

Bring in Hall or Gross for extra grunt?

 

[UseR2006]

Changes:

In: Shanahan, Long, Gross, TK
Out, Dewar, Owies, A. Reid, Hutch.

Reasoning:
Long for a full game in place of Owies. 30% DE is putrid and he needs to get touch, tackling only gets you so far and he didn't get any.

A. Reid to drop to WAFL for a rest and to learn to play KPD. Shanahan has earnt a debut even if it's just for some experience about the work rate of a AFL player and game day experience.

Gross for Hutch. Love hutchs endeavor but 40% DE isn't good enough, needs to get used to a mid role and be a bit more one touch and less fumbly.

Dewar for TK, Dewar needs a rest, has fallen off the pace and 7 touches isn't going to cut it.

Thoughts:
Keep Oscar back, can always swing him forward if Shanahan isn't impacting.
If TK isn't ready then Hutch stays in, Dewar still goes out for Gross.
I'd start H.R in the middle against the dees, should get him fired up considering how he monstered them last year.

 

[Bleedblueandgold]

In: Gross, Brock, Kelly
Out: Dewar, Allen, Davis

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Changes:

In: Shanahan, Long, Gross, TK
Out, Dewar, Owies, A. Reid, Hutch.

Reasoning:
Long for a full game in place of Owies. 30% DE is putrid and he needs to get touch, tackling only gets you so far and he didn't get any.

A. Reid to drop to WAFL for a rest and to learn to play KPD. Shanahan has earnt a debut even if it's just for some experience about the work rate of a AFL player and game day experience.

Gross for Hutch. Love hutchs endeavor but 40% DE isn't good enough, needs to get used to a mid role and be a bit more one touch and less fumbly.

Dewar for TK, Dewar needs a rest, has fallen off the pace and 7 touches isn't going to cut it.

Thoughts:
Keep Oscar back, can always swing him forward if Shanahan isn't impacting.
If TK isn't ready then Hutch stays in, Dewar still goes out for Gross.
I'd start H.R in the middle against the dees, should get him fired up considering how he monstered them last year.

I reckon it would be insane to drop Hutch against Petracca-Oliver-Viney. He's exactly the type we'll need to compete physically.

 

[EagleEyeYeo]

Big fan of Dewar but he definitely needs a spell. Give him a few weeks in the WAFL to work on what he has learned in the first 7 weeks. If he's banging the door down bring him straight back in. Hough is worth persisting with in the midfield and it would be good to give Gross more of a run also. Wouldn't mind seeing a position switch between A.Reid and Allen to give Reid a go down back.

Ins: Kelly, Gross
Outs: Owies, Dewar

Sub either Long or Davis

 

[UseR2006]

I reckon it would be insane to drop Hutch against Petracca-Oliver-Viney. He's exactly the type we'll need to compete physically.

Unless it's fumbles for days and those three run it out without issue.

Don't get me wrong i LOVE Hutchs hustle, and the pressure he puts on is excellent, however I am concerned that if he doesn't get cleaner fast it'll just be fumble then tackled, rinse and repeat.

Wouldn't be adverse to seeing him play next week though.

 

[Footfalcon]

Owies cops a lot of shit, but his defensive efforts is what saves him.

I'd play Dewar CHF he is the opportunity player and play maker, this role suits him.

Try Maric on the wing

out: archer (rest), cole, fridge

In: gross, shanahan, Kelly

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Owies defensive effort blah blah. Massive liability when we are going forward though with shit decision making and vision. We haven’t the skill to be a possession based side so need to counterattack clinically and make the absolute most out of forays forward. Owies out, he cooks so many chains with bad decisions

 

[Yeahnahmate]

Blowies gotta be out, surely. Would rather Brockman in right now.

Rather anyone. Getting games because was promised would get games based off his tally last year. Is god awful in attacking transition and needs to be a WAFL eagle asap

 

[KERRPOW]

We pretty much got a full list to choose from and no one from the WAFL is really putting in performances that demand selection...and theres too many players in the main side that are droppable.

 

[stallon]

J Williams never came back on after the blood rule.

Potentially concussion?

Didn't he go off with like 6 mins to go in the game or something?